Al: All right fellas, welcome. Let's start with an easy one, give me a quick down and dirty review of the 2011 season.

Robert: It's the second most successful season in the history of the franchise. The team wasn't perfect, but worse teams have won a World Series with a little luck.

Jason: I’m not quite sure how anyone could view 2011 as anything but a huge success.Most wins by any Brewer team in franchise history, a couple of MVP candidates, a strong pitching staff up and down the line, and some fun and personality to boot.Sure, a World Series win would have been amazing, but just getting to the playoffs should be the mark of a quality team.Anything can happen after that.

Al: I'd say arguably the best team in Brewers' history, as I put far more stock in regular season win totals than playoff results. Also, a perfect example of a GM making a plan, executing a plan, and experiencing solid performances and good health.

So, let's get it out of the way, what percentage chance do you give to Prince returning, and guess where he ends up, how many years, and how much?

Robert: I'll say 1 in 1,000, 0.1%. It's possible that the teams with money have other priorities than 1B/DH, but I have a hard time conceiving of any exact scenario where everything falls into place. I'll toss Baltimore as a likely landing spot with Prince getting less than Pujols, say 5 years and $120 million. Heck, that's probably way too conservative.

Jason: While I think Mark and Doug will probably sweeten their initial offer a bit (5 years/$125M was the rumor, I believe), I can’t imagine it will be remotely close to what Prince could get in the market. If it were close I think we would have heard more about it. Odds of coming back to Milwaukee seem slim—5%. I’m thinking Boras starts along the lines of 6 years at $26M on average and works from there.

I have to think Prince will end up in the AL East. The Red Sox may want to make a preemptive smash with their (assumed) new GM and end the David Ortiz era in Boston. The commitment they would have made to Papi would take care of about half of Prince’s salary this season. I also think the Blue Jays might like to kick the tires on him and either deal Adam Lind, who has been good but maybe less than the superstar they were hoping, or Edwin Encarnacion, who is cheap and productive. It would take a major shift in roster management philosophy for this regime in Toronto, but they may need to do that to compete. And the Yankees, well, they’re the Yankees. They’ll worry about lineups later. Baltimore? It could very well happen, again with a new GM in place.

If Theo Epstein comes to the Cubs as is widely reported, the Cub must be a serious player in the Prince/Pujols sweepstakes, too.

Al: I've been saying BAL or DC for quite a while, and I'd say FLA, LA, SF and TEX will also be in the mix. I too have a difficult time thinking he'll get 7-8 years, but I suppose it only takes one team. I'll guess 6y/$144M from the O's.

OK, expectations for 2012 are pretty low among the masses. What do you think?

Robert: I don't see why the Brewers can't contend again. They can bring back their whole starting rotation, they have an MVP caliber hitter in the middle of the lineup, they have a lockdown closer, and there's reason to expect better health from the likes of Grienke, Hart, Weeks, Lucroy, and even Gomez. Their infield defense should be easy to upgrade, they got very little out of 3B and SS offensively, and the bench was no great shakes. Yes, they'll miss Prince and will have to address the bullpen and depth issues, but the window isn't closed.

Jason: From what I’ve read, replacing Prince will likely cost us five expected wins and should put the Brewers at around an 86 win team for 2012. Not bad, but not enough for a return trip to the playoffs in all likelihood.

There is no way we can reasonably expect the pitching staff to be as healthy as it was this year, either. One thing the Brewers organization didn’t have this year was starting pitching depth, and they were extremely fortunate that it was never an issue.

I don’t know if looking for 86ish wins is low expectations or not. I suppose it is coming off a playoff year, but in the franchise history overall it isn’t that bad. Considering the repair that will continue to take place in the minors, 85 wins at the major league level seems like a pretty nice cushion while rebuilding. That said, with a payroll perhaps in the $90M range, it doesn’t seem like enough to be content with.

Al: Before Jason's response, I was a bit more confident, as I had kind of forgotten that their expected win total was 91, and they won 96 due to good fortune, including their stellar record in one run games. However, while their 1B offensive production is all but certain to go down enough to cost the team 30-40 runs (3-4 wins using the rule of 10), other factors may help to minimize the impact:

--1B and SS were the weakest defensively, and an upgrade to average D at those two spots is probably worth 10-12 runs.

--Lucroy is likely to keep improving at the plate, and one way or another, 3B offense is also bound to be better, whether that means Casey returns to form, Green gets more PA's, or a combo of the two.

--While the bullpen was stellar, and KRod will be gone, Doug has been building a decent pen on the cheap since he arrived.

So then, let's try to predict what Doug will try to do this offseason.

Robert: I think Doug will talk extension with Grienke, see if he can bring in some veteran insurance for 1B and 3B, look high and low for a SS, go the free agent route for the bullpen, and perhaps try to see if he can bundle Marcum or Narveson with a prospect to see if he can get someone with more pure stuff for the post-season.

Jason: You mean, besides sign a mythical Gold Glove SS with an All-Star bat for $2M?

If the Brewers aren’t committed to Gamel at 1B (I think they are), perhaps platooning him with McGehee to start off, I think they could spend some money on someone like Casey Kotchman, a long-time favorite of mine for whatever reason.

I don’t believe Yuni will be viewed as worth the $6M (or $4M after the buyout), and the popular name now is Clint Barmes and I can’t disagree with that. One of Al’s favorites, Marco Scutaro, might be available but I think he’s a little overpriced and at his age (Marco’s, not Al’s) you can only expect regression. If Boston does hold on to him, though, Jed Lowrie might be an interesting trade candidate. See? I read mlbtraderumors.com too! No idea how the teams would match up, though.

I think the Brewers really liked the idea of having an eighth-inning stopper. How much does Doug trust a returning Parra or even Braddock for that role? He could look to the minors (maybe even Peralta to get his major league feet wet?), but more likely I could see a reclamation project like Matt Capps as a possibility.

All in all, I find it doubtful there will be a big splash signing or trade made this year. I fully agree with Robert that Doug will look to extend Greinke, though.

Al: I agree that they will look for an 8th inning guy, and a former closer who can also backup Axford is a likely choice. I've mentioned Jon Broxton, who will look to prove he is healthy and has his velocity back, and therefore may well sign a 1y/$2-3M "make good" deal.

I'd look for a veteran bat who can bat RH to be signed to protect/platoon with Gamel/Green.

Finally, not only do they not have a SS in MIL, they really do not have one in their entire system. There are a few available of some merit as FA's, but if a SP is dealt (and I can't imagine Doug heading into '12 with three SP's in the final season of their contract), I'd look for a SS to be the return they look for.

So guys, give me the names of a couple minor leaguers who will factor into the success or failure of 2012. Also, Mat Gamel is out of options, where will he be?

Robert: Wily Peralta is the prospect that jumps out at me. One of the things that went very right for the Brewers in 2011 was the health of the rotation. They may need similar health to contend again, but you certainly shouldn't plan for it. I'm expecting that Peralta will be starting meaningful games next season. I also think Gindl is likely to replace Kotsay on the roster and the Brewers will attempt to address their infield depth issues with veterans.

Jason: If Taylor Green isn’t given the majority of starts at 3B, I’ll be disappointed. Platoon with Hairston or McGehee (if he isn’t in a platoon at 1B with Gamel) as needed.

I completely agree that Peralta might be able to see some time in Milwaukee. He should get strong consideration for replacement starts if needed and may spend some time in the bullpen as well.

Either Caleb Gindl or Logan Schafer could also be brought in as outfield depth.

Al: I see Gindl and Schafer spending the season in AAA, barring injuries. Both are young parts of the future who need AB's. I agree Peralta will be SP depth, but I think people undervalue Fiers immensely (41 hits allowed in 60+ innings at AAA is simply stunning)...he might end up as a valuable cog in the bullpen or rotation. Maldonado might be Lucroy's backup or AAA depth. I would guess Green opens in AAA, but will be the main 2B/3B backup (unless Hairston returns as a utility player). For my sleepers, don't forget Mike McClendon and Mark DiFelice, both still in the system. They might not have the pure stuff as Axford and others, but they have options, they're cheap, and they can be effective.

Robert: Anyone else think the Brewers just aren't all that sold on Gamel? I just have a hard time seeing a contender take a risk on two unknown quantities at the corners of the infield. It wouldn't surprise me to see Gamel traded in hopes of shoring up the roster with someone more proven.

Al: Gamel will be somewhere in the bigs next year, as he's out of options. He's done everything he can at AAA, and he projects almost as well at 1B as anyone not named Prince or Albert. I think Doug goes with him, brings in a RH veteran bat, and if they need help, 1B is an easy position to fill at the deadline.

Finally, the name of a true MLB FA you could imagine signing with the Brewers for next year.

Jason: Already mentioned that Barmes, Capps, and, to a much-lesser extent, Kotchman could be targets.

Robert: I can't see the Brewers being in the running for Pujols, Prince, Reyes, or any of the other high priced talent. Pick a decent middle reliever and it's likely that the Brewers will be interested at the right price. Furcal seems too fragile to interest the Brewers. Barmes seems like the most reasonable at SS. I expect Hairston to be back as insurance at 3B. And I expect someone to come in at 1B, either as insurance or as a proven starter. Aramis Ramirez is intriguing to me, especially since he can still play some 3B. Carlos Pena also strikes me as someone that the Brewers might be interested in. I might want to talk to the White Sox and see how much of Adam Dunn's contract they're willing to eat. Otherwise, I think it's just bargain hunting with a veteran.

AL: Other than those I mentioned, and Scooter, who I have loved since he was in AAA before Doug arrived, I'm going to throw out a pair of names:

Ryan Doumit...switch-hitting C who has also played 1B/LF/RF. Doug has some history here...he was discussed in a swap for JJ Hardy years ago. Doumit is not looked at as an everyday catcher anymore, and unless he's able to finagle a starting job somewhere would seemingly be a good fit in MIL.

Mike Gonzalez...lefty reliever, also with some prior interest, Doug talked to him before the '10 season, when he signed with BAL, and tried to bring him aboard on 8/31, but TEX was able to offer a hard throwing youngster. Not just a loogy, almost as effective in his career versus RH bats as LH.

An e-mailer asked me a while back what I thought of a poll that showed W with a 48-43 lead on Obama. I said presidential races are not decided by popular vote, and I have no doubt a 2010 electoral vote between the two would be a landslide, as the red states that went blue in '08 would revert back, many by double digits. IN and NC both went blue, and are going red by 19 and 13 in Senate races.

If one is already looking at '12, the fact Obama has been only visiting the extreme blue areas...Madison, California, and so on, but still felt obligated to stop in swing state Ohio tells you one thing...it's likely to decide the presidency. No Dem can win the White House without Ohio, and the fact they were willing to play to an embarrassingly small crowd proves this. With 2010 redistricting expected to add about a half-dozen electoral votes to the GOP, and neighboring fellow swing state PA electing an elephant Senator, the margin of error looks tiny. Hence, trips to Ohio, damn the empty seats.

One minor thing that may come up is if Valentine does get a three year deal, he has a longer contract than Melvin. Mark A has always been supportive of Doug, and I doubt if he would mind adding another year, though MA often worries about public perception more than I would.

One final thought, no one is sure how much longer Doug even wants to work.

While it is astounding that Favre can play with broken bones (and barely limp), we have to remember that football is only played one day a week, so you can plan all your efforts on how to be able to go several days from now...he may well have had shots during the week, let them work for 48 hours, and then got back to it.

Baseball is a different beast, there's almost always a game tomorrow, and the constant pounding, almost every single day, is a good chunk of why it is so difficult. After the injury Sunday, Brett did nothing Monday or Tuesday, and was said to have done little Wednesday, no dropbacks, just a few tosses while standing still. In baseball, he would have missed an entire series.

I was flipping toward the end of the football game, and came across the credits of the DC rally...I did not see a single minority in the crowd, not a single one. So much for the Tea Party being mostly white.

It may have been the most Caucasian gathering since Christopher Cross gave his last concert.

Stuck up private schools, with so much money in their endowments, they would not need to charge tuition at all, publicly criticize student who chose not to "donate."

That, in a single sentence, is why I can't stand these schools, nor the spoiled punks that attend them. One of the main things we need to do to quit wasting the taxpayer's money is to stop lining the coffers of these bastions of arrogance and elitism. I certainly have nothing against their existence...after all, we live in a free country, where any of us can start a private college if we choose to. However, not a penny of public money, be it grants, loans, or "stimulus" pork should find its way to any of them. They lose the right to public funds by not being, you know, public.

I've been for it for ages, because it eliminates almost all injustices (saving is taxed, investing (dividends) is double taxed, and best of all, everyone pays on consumption...drug dealers, illegals, people who make their living "off the books" in cash, and so on. No one really knows how much that alone would add up to, but whatever the estimates are, they're probably way low. The best part is, cheap people like me won't pay much, but those who buy jewelry, yachts, and foolish stuff will pay...a lot.

I used to say I'd go out of my way to get another old dog if I was fortunate enough to outlive the current Rambling old dog. Since then, I have realized there are both financial and emotional consequences, and have decided against this course of action.

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are all 800 pound gorillas, and no one wants to discuss them. In fact, most of the dinosaurs

*cough*Feingold*cough*

complain every time someone suggests, you know, making changes to it to make it, you know, less of a financial liability to the taxpayers, now and in the future. Rand Paul's idea of a $2K deductible for Medicare is brilliant. Other ideas, such as future Social Security growth not rising by 4.1% yearly, is so common sensical, I can't believe it hasn't been done yet.

If this would have been a closer race, even single digits, the Gawker piece might have been enough to swing it, as everyone has come out on O'Donnell's side.

It's just astounding how the far-left simply has no understanding of how the electorate thinks...or how they can whip up sympathy for this gal who, at best, was too far right to win in a left-leaning state. That's the risk you run...is it better to have a moderate/slightly lefty with a R next to their name that can win; or a pure conservative with little chance? This happens in the South all the time, as many in Oklahoma and Alabama took one look at John McCain and were not motivated enough to bother voting.

If O'Donnell was close, this could put her over the top. As is, it just makes Gawker look incredibly foolish, and dare I say, irresponsible. Anonymous as a byline? That's pretty much just admitting it's fiction.

The ADA should be completely rewritten, as common sense knows it is a complete failure. The mere fact that the entire thing represents only those in wheelchairs, a small minority of those who are "disabled."

I still recall in The Death of Common Sense, a group of nuns wanted to use an abandoned building for the public good, and were thwarted several times by ridiculous rules, most of which the ADA was directly responsible for.

One thing that hasn't really been discussed is Bobby V's reported $3M salary demands, not to mention 3 guaranteed years. Obviously, Mark A can spend his money however he wishes, but if you overpay in one spot, you tend to make it up elsewhere.

I don’t know what’s worse, the "unwashed" part or the fact that Couric apparently thinks that Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and New Brunswick are the "middle of the country."

Katie Couric may be the stupidest person on the planet. You can read the whole thing here, but be forewarned, Couric comes off as an uppity Northeastern snob, or as they are called on network TV, "one of us."

Well, it was a good run (for Minnesota, at least). Just flipped my heat on for the first time.--Gleeman

The Rambling family is off to Durand and Minnesota until Saturday evening, so I promise you ours won't be on 'til then. I won't turn mine on even if I see my own breath, and I'll probably open my bedroom window when I lay myself to sleep.

The Rambling dog is not fond of my cold blooded behavior, by the way. He shivers every waking minute until his body temp resets...so on a good day, he shivers for about an hour a day.

Doug says no deal is in place, as that has been reported in places, while I was out recommending ideas to people who have it all figured out, and have little use for little people like myself. And, for those of you unaware, driving a Saturn through 40 mph winds and 70 mph gusts, really, really sucks.

Valentine would be my second choice, only behind the other Mr. Melvin, and I have little reason not to like all these guys, though I can't help but wonder what Joey Cora has learned from Ozzie Guillen, except to proclaim "little ball" as your savior when in reality, you led the league in HR's and pitching, and to publicly criticize your players. Guillen proves a point though...give him a good team, and they still win, even though he appears to be the town idiot. Ditto for Cito Gaston, and if I cared enough, I'm sure I could name a plethora of others.

Valentine told folks he enjoyed Brewers' people but isn't expecting job. Another bold stroke for Attanasio?--Heyman

Allow me to say how frustrating it is to have to correct spelling in a real media person's stuff. I have little doubt Doug will bring in whoever he feels will do the best job, though I think he probably agrees with Alderson that the difference is minimal.

Kevin Correia (Padres – Age 30) – Correia would have had a few suitors and might have landed a two-year deal had the Padres opted to non-tender him last year rather than give him $3.6 million. San Diego won’t want to pay him nearly as much again after his ERA jumped from 3.91 to 5.40 in his second year in the team’s rotation, and it’s a safe bet that he’ll have to take a one-year contract elsewhere.--Hardball Talk

I see this as a perfect buy low opportunity. He's no star, but he's a solid guy and he buys some time for Jeffress, Rogers, and maybe others. While his ERA was up, his secondary numbers were all but identical (xFIP was 4.20 in '09, 4.19 in '10), telling me he may have been more unfortunate than crappy.

Keep hearing Bobby Valentine is finalist for the Brewers, along with Bob Melvin and Cora.--Rosenthal

I'd be stunned if Doug went with such a "look at me" type, though I can't say I have anything against Valentine except his penchant for the spotlight. That said, a good question to ask may be this...would doug bypass the best candidate if he did not care for him?

Polling trends like this are why Dem candidates are telling Obama to stay away.

One should note how bad he is doing with independents, and also, that his negatives with D's are far higher than his positives with R's. Needless to say, terrible trends a week before midterms.

It's probably not a coincidence the president is leaving the country two days after Election Day. He hopes for a shift in coverage, but it's not likely to occur, as the Congress being split, with tiny majorities in each, will dominate, far more than a meaningless trip to India.

I never imagined they would, but in today's world of comfort and ease, it would not surprise me a bit. I walked into the bathroom this morning, and looked out into the backyard...out tree was almost horizontal, the upper half at least, and it was raining in sheets. It may have been the most miserable moment to be outside I've ever witnessed...luckily, 15 minutes later, it was calm and precipitation free.

I would say it has to do with the fact most folks love him or hate him, but few are oblivious, like I am.

The one thing that gets me is how few people, even those who are promoted as "NFL experts" are mentioning how tough the Vikings schedule is and will be. They are a good team, but they play good teams, weekly. Take a gander at the Chiefs' schedule and it's easy to see why they have had success thus far.

We all make fun of college teams when they play weak opponents, especially those in the "second-tier," but that's how crappy 3-6 teams in the conference go 6-6 overall and get a bowl game in weak seasons.

The thing is, California is sending this clod right back to the Senate. The parody is funny, but only because it's true.

They tried to recruit Dennis Miller to run for Senate a few years ago, and he said he would have except it dawned on him, "If he won, he'd have to go to work with buffoons like Boxer and Feinstein every day."

Not sure how many will actually be dealt, but I think I've seen more young SP's mentioned as "on the market" than in the past several years. Zach Grienke has got the most play, but we've also seen Ricky Nolasco, James Shields, Matt Garza mentioned, mainly due to financial constraints.

The Crew has plenty of room to add salary, though small market teams rarely deal prospects...they are the pre-arby nucleus of tomorrow.

Picked up dinner from sports bar by house. Usually full, but literally empty for Vikes-Packers. They had extra staff expecting crowd. Weird.--Gleeman

I'm certainly not a sports bar expert, but I assume they do more business when there's no work the next day, or when the game is in the afternoon. I assume the game itself will last until 11 or so, and after the drive home, that's a late evening for many folks who may have to be at work at 6 or 7.

Glenn points out that Wikileaks has thus far shown WMD's were found, and that the oft-cited figure of Iraq civilians killed was far exaggerated, though that's been known to anyone with common sense for years.

Is the GOP responsible for Wikileaks? I doubt it, but they should be using it as PR.

Juan Williams has come out of this "controversy" looking like a genius, and has also managed to make NPR look like buffoons...which of course, is rather easy, as the far-left, taxpayer funded network has been a punchline for decades, especially since no one listens to it.

To recap, ok to wish death on a conservative, not all right to disclose fright of a group known to, on occasion, hijack planes and crash them into buildings.

And you know, there's just no where left to cut in the federal budget...bwahahahaha!

The rumor mill would indicate Doug did an extra interview or two when he was in Arizona. Among possibilities, Yount and Ryne Sandberg both live in the desert. I doubt Doug wants anything to do with a former Brewers' player as manager, especially a star like Robin.

Sveum back as hitting coach, signs 2 year deal, says team will be more aggressive.

It seems to me Doug has told his interviews they may be given some coaches, and all agreed to it, or are not in the second round.

I was disappointed that Dale went public with Alcides' struggles late in the season, but it could well have been he was told to do so, or that the team winked and nodded that Escobar needed a bit of a push. That said, as I pointed out here, Alcides' struggles can be directly traced to bad luck more than any hitting woes, real or imagined.

Those who do not see and hear the anger and disgust of the American people, just continue to ignore it. After all, some folks just insist on "clinging to their guns and religion," and just don't get it.

If they'd add a couple spots to the 25 man roster and create a 24 or 25 man "active" roster for each game, I'd be happier, but this is a good realization that concussions are serious and not to be messed with.

{My 27 man roster idea would allow for more specialization, which would also help level the playing field a tad bit...teams like TB and MIN could use those extra spots to have an extra loogy, or maybe a PR, while teams at the other end of the success cycle, like PIT and SEA, could make a couple Rule 5 picks and easily keep them on the roster all season. I'd see if the player's union would accept this swap...two extra roster spots, 60 in all, for a lower minimum salary, say $250K or$300K instead of $400K.}

Considering that Aaron Rodgers failed one brain test Tuesday and another Wednesday, yet no one even questioned his starting Sunday (except Boomer Esiason), it's obvious the NFL is clueless about concussions. Good to see MLB recognize the problem and take steps to prevent further issues.

Former Brewers manager Ken Macha has been told he's no longer being considered for the Pirates' managerial opening.

Royals bench coach John Gibbons removed himself from considered Friday, so the Pirates are down to former Diamondbacks third base coach Bo Porter, Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum, Braves bench coach Carlos Tosca, and their own bench coach, Jeff Banister. They reportedly would've liked to hire Eric Wedge, but Wedge decided to manage the Mariners.--Rotoworld

Macha out, but Sveum still alive. Ken should hope a real young guy gets the job, and they might well consider him to be the bench coach, if he has interest in anything besides managing, that is.

Pawlenty, Rush, and Palin have all said if the Republicans fail to take advantage of the anger and disgust, 2012 might see the rise of a 3rd party. The funny thing is, I wonder if they are thinking a 3rd party would be more conservative, or if it would go to the middle.

For years, I've suggested that a 3rd party would basically represent my beliefs...fiscal conservatives, social liberals (or perhaps, social libertarians), as you already hear some of the tea party folks complaining that they have no desire to join the religious right. Many of us invoke the name of Reagan, bur he was all for a small, limited government...not one that was involved in what consenting adults should be doing in their own home, or one that, however much one despises abortion being used as birth control, wants to imprison a woman for having one.

I just found out the Gophers fired Tim Brewster. Glen Mason's consistent 7-8 win seasons with a bowl game look better with each passing day. That program has been down for so long, it's difficult to believe they ever let Mason go.

Doug Melvin, and his bobblehead, made an appearance on Comedy Central, which was just as lame and unfunny as what usually passes for humor on Comedy Central.

I assume someone made a nice contribution to Doug's foundation, so he happily showed up, but golly, it astounds me how awkward Jon Stewart is. Even Kimmel, who used to be hilarious, swung and missed completely.

I just finished leftover meatloaf from supper, it was the best the Rambling wife has ever made. It was very nicely spiced. Turns out, it's 2 pounds of ground beef, a box of Stove Top, and a cup of water. She found it on the Kraft website.

Thanks for the tip on the Salonpas. I've been dealing with some tendinitis, and subsequent pain and weakness, in my bowling hand (right down the 3rd metacarpal) for much of the year. Last night I slapped one on under my WBC-worthy tape job and, by the end of the 2nd game, didn't need the brace for the extra support. I put one on at work today and the difference is amazing. We'll see how it continues at league tomorrow night.

Shawn

Friend of Ramblings Shawn making us sound like an infomercial.

{Set it and FORGET IT!!}

It is a very good product, let me tell you. Sadly, it does nothing to solve the actual problem, just minimizes the pain. That said, my issue is almost three weeks old, and I can't imagine how miserable I'd be without it. It sucks, but it's more of a irritant right now.

Those stuck-up private schools should never see a single penny of federal grant or loan money again. And, they should be ashamed of themselves. They are, without a doubt, the most anti-military people in the country.

Brewers lose another scout to another club's promotion, or better opportunity.

Few folks realize how much of their team is home grown. They have also done a phenomenal job on waiver claims and finding usable pieces in indy ball and after other teams have released injured players. Hopefully, they can reload on the fly.

.325/.403 is the average offensive player in MLB. Gload is above average, and of course, especially against RHP. Of course, since he is a 1B/OF, he better be, as he has little defensive value. But, you know what? That's why he's a bench player, and a PH.

It never fails to amaze me how seemingly little the casual fan understands about the game.

The Bucks have far out shot their opponents at the line so far in the preseason. They were a jump shooting team last year, and if memory serves, were in the bottom 5 in FT attempted. Let's hope this carries over to the regular season.

This is exactly what happens when you try and use a tiny sample to explain long-term weather patterns...you end up looking as stupid as Al Gore does...who, of course, is laughing all the way to the bank, with his fibs and blatant lies lapped up by the same rubes that fell for a meaningless slogan in '08.

Folks just don't realize the rage that is out there. Folks are blaming this and that, but the truth is, folks are just very unhappy at the direction of the country...especially those in flyover country.

For many, Tom Bosley was as much a dad as their real dad. Heck, I grew up watching Tom every day, and then again on Tuesday night, when the new Happy Days was on each week.

I seem to recall an interview that he did that he said many people come up to him and either call him "Mr. C" or act like they've known him for years. I think Scott Baio had the best quote I've seen, and it says a lot about people just telling the truth.

He was a good man who taught me a lot about the business and business itself. He was a professional guy ... I'm sad.--Baio

When the Happy Days cast was at the Brewers game, when the statue of The Fonz was unveiled in Milwaukee, Bosley and Marion Ross got by far the loudest ovation. Tom will be missed.

Just a quick, unendorsed plug, I woke up with a sore back a couple weeks ago and just can't shake it. Salonpas is not just inexpensive (40 pads for $3.97), but very effective at numbing the area and giving it time to heal. It's basically Vicks Vaporub and aspirin, but it does the job.

Watching Little People Big World, and they are having tests run on their dog to see if they can ease his pain. Todd Brunson tweeted out today that his 15 year-old dog passed away this morning.

Hearing all this makes one think about the Rambling dog and his mortality. He's 14, and while he still acts out a puppy at feeding time, he's fatigued and not nearly as spry as he was just a year or two ago.

I knew that long before they named McGehee team MVP. I do agree though, there's no way Casey was as good as several others. As he points out, as it is, those clods would have given the award to whoever batted 5th, as they had the most RBI opportunities, and hence, the most RBI's.

There's nothing wrong with America that a good old-fashioned election can't fix.--Sarah Palin

The question I have is, why is Palin the only one coming up with one-liners like this? She's said a dozen things that are bumper sticker worthy, and no one else has. That alone makes her the face of the party.

To say Bucks' ownership was not pleased with the situation surrounding Hobson is an understatement, mainly because Milwaukee has a track record of paying guys not to play due to injury and in Milwaukee with their revenue situation that's an issue for ownership. The Bucks have guaranteed some of Hobson's $473,000 contract, and are handling his medical expenses. His deal has trigger points in which more dollars are guaranteed the longer he remains on the roster, but there is a very real chance that Hobson is going to be cut as the season progresses, mainly to recover the roster spot.--Hoops World

This might well be how the Bucks find a spot for Brian Skinner on the 15 man roster, as Hobson is now out for the season. It's a shame the NBA lacks a DL, as MIL likes Hobson as a future contributor. Skinner is just a 10-15 minute man, but his presence will be nice with Bogut limited for at least the first month or two, and quite likely, much of the season.

EDIT: Rasmussen agrees, saying the GOP has 9 more seats than necessary locked up, and should win 16 extra. Gibbs should not be believed anymore than OJ claiming he was napping (and hitting golf balls) when Nicole was being killed.

Remember stuff like this next time Gibby tries to say unemployment being up is a positive.

I'm telling you...spiral notebook. How hard is it to not say something the exact opposite of what you've already said?

That frat boy speechwriter needs to set the bong down and get cranking out some stuff to fill that teleprompter that really doesn't mean anything. Hope and change can't be the only phrase in the language that the rubes can turn into a Being There anthem, can it?

I'm trying to think what a reasonable offer would be, but I'd say two top prospects and another solid one would probably be the starting point for a very good 27 year-old SP, though he is making $27M in '11-'12, so he's not inexpensive.

If the Crew would get involved, Lawrie would be a name that would have to be included, I would assume. If I were to try and make a Brett-less deal, maybe Cain, Gamel, and Odorizzi? I assume they'd want pre-arby guys rather than older, more proven players.

I'd be hesitant, because even though Zach is very good, he's had depression issues and also has been worked very hard in KC. That said, it's tough to baby a guy who averages 7 innings a start. It is only a two year risk as well.

I can't believe they can't get a full house for the spring game at $5 a piece. With the money going to the nursing school, I'd think many businesses would buy 25-100 to give to their employees.

That said, the idea no one even mentions baseball returning to the UW is pathetic, and shows a lack of forward thinking. There are probably a dozen alumni that would happily foot the bill themselves, or fund raise to cover the cost.

Fascinating story on diapers.com, who lost money on every order their first two years...though they did start doing ok when they were able to take in enough orders to pay their credit cards bills without interest.

This is who we need making economic decisions, not a bunch of Ivy League elitists who've never run a business in their lives, and have accomplished nothing except spend Daddy's money and taken part in just enough shady real estate deals to be elected to political office in Chicago.

Andrew Sullivan's demise, as I have noted before, is nothing short of painful and sad. His formerly gifted and common sense filled prose has fallen to pure silliness, as he hitches his mythical horse to a politician who has the exact same view on said issue (gay marriage) as most folks Sullivan rips apart every day.

The Red Sox are "going to go real hard after Carl Crawford." Gammons thinks one advantage Boston has is that they're looking at Crawford as middle-of-the-order bat rather than as a leadoff man, and Crawford "doesn’t want to be the guy trying to steal 70 bases."--Gammons

Theo rarely gives out long-term deals to older players, but Crawford is young and his weakness, a weak arm, will be hidden in BOS.

Back in the spring, I continually tried to point out that even if Gomez were able to hit at replacement level, he would produce a decent amount of value for the Brewers. Even though he didn't meet our expectations as a hitter, he still wound up with about 1 WAR over 318 plate appearances, and 2 over 650 or so is about average. So, at his current production, Gomez looks to be about an average centerfielder overall. That has real value. Even though we may not see Gomez ever becoming the hitter it seems like he could be, he is an asset that should be taken seriously as a trade chip or player.--BCB

That's almost the exact same conclusion I came to, though most casuals would disagree...which makes me believe my own conclusion even more.

Alderson is a brilliant baseball man. I was even more impressed when he said the other day that paying a manager a lot of money was an incredible waste of money. One needs look no further than Joe Torre's years with the Cardinals or how Pinella got stupid when he was in Tampa than to know their impact is quite limited.

I would have to agree with MLBTR, that Coffey is likely to be non-tendered, as his cost (I'd guess $2.75M in arby) will likely be too high for his production. Plus, five spots (Axford, Braddock, Loe, Hawkins, Parra) are probably spoken for. Add that to Todd not having options (not that you'd want to pay a AAA guy that much anyway), and lots of other options being cheaper and with options to burn, he'll probably end up elsewhere.

Gindl, added to the Surprise roster after Logan Schafer (foot) was unable to play, is 4 for 8 through his first two games with a pair of doubles and a walk. He has been an offensive player since being drafted.--Tom H

Tom write good. As opposed to those players who are not allowed to bat? Don't all position players play offense?

I was up in the Eagle River area today, stopped at the office on the way home to turn in business, and then picked up a couple things at the greatest bastion of retail success the world has ever known the evil Empire. Allow me to say they have more people working at 10:30PM than I ever had on staff in any of the wimpy, embarrassingly small stores I ever ran.

Bare minimum of 60, maybe 80-100. Damn them, their very low prices, and their employing of lots of human beings. How dare they be more efficient at what they do than the others?

I think Bobby V seems like an odd choice for the Brewers, as Doug seems like a guy who would be worried about what BV would say, and if he would do what was best for the team, or what was best for BV. That said, I can't say I know much about him, other than the obvious goofy stuff.

I just looked back at BV's 2000 NL pennant winner...5 sac bunts by the 8 position players, no regular hit double digits in stolen bases. He may be more Macha-like than Macha.:) BV spent years in Texas, but left two years before Doug arrived. Maybe he heard good things.

Wedge and Tim Wallach have interviewed so far, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. He says they plan to interview about ten people in total, including Melvin. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel adds today via Twitter that he believes they've also interviewed Ron Roenicke. Heyman views Melvin as the favorite here. Cecil Cooper would like to interview, he told Haudricourt.--MLBTR

I have had Melvin #1 and Wedge #2 since the opening was announced, and I will keep them there, though Wedge is a favorite in TOR to some, PIT to others.

Sveum and Macha both interviewed in PIT, Ken is from there, and Dale was a coach/manager in their minor league system for years. I'm still of the belief that the Pirates have a nice young group of core players, much like the Crew did back in '05-'06. They have added oodles of prospects as they traded veteran mediocrity. They've been rebuilding a long time, but they've done it properly.

This I don't get: If you would pinch-hit Willy Aybar for Dan Johnson, DH for DH, with the same starting pitcher, why didn't Aybar start?--Olney

Maybe this is why they had Baldelli on the roster originally.:)

What's really amazing is Johnson spent much of the year in AAA, and he started Game 5 lefty on lefty. He's a sleeper for teams needing a 1B next year, seems like TB had a RH bat that could platoon with him even.

I think Doug is playing possum here a bit...I don't see any long-term contracts this year to FA SP's...but there are very few available anyway. However, I can see them being active with a couple non-tenders and with one-year contracts.

Brett is a good enough prospect that this will probably not affect him. His bat is probably ready now, and certainly will be by mid '11. Too bad about Logan, who the Crew was hoping would get some AB's to make up for a lost season. Lo Cain also said he did not want to play winter ball, saying he preferred to "work out"...I assume he means lift weights and add muscle.

In case you're wondering, this is one reason guys like Casey McGehee, who come out early and stay late, and do whatever is asked of them, are so appreciated. I probably would not want to play a bunch of games in the Arizona heat either, after five months of games and a few weeks of instructionals either, but Lawrie certainly needs reps and advice on defense.

The studios are gearing up for Oscar season which means the high and middle brow films are deemed safe to come out after a Summer of explosions and CGI. Coming out very soon is the Hilary Swank starring vehicle CONVICTION which tells the true life story of Betty Anne Waters (Swank), who after her brother (Sam Rockwell) is convicted for murder, dedicates her life to clearing her brother. She gets her GED, her Bachelors, her Masters, and attempts to become a lawyer. All the while she raises two sons by herself.

It’s tough to review a movie like CONVICTION. However well done it may be, it’s familiar stuff. Individual triumphing against the system is an old trope. It’s also a story that works, which is why it’s returned to again and again. But, other than the fine acting performances, is there anything here that will make it a choice over something like renting NORMA RAE?

Unfortunately, I can’t really come up with a positive answer to that question. There are good points to the movie. The movie is fairly understated and quiet, instead of going for the “big, triumphant, speech” climax. The relationship between brother and sister is very strong, compared to the usual romantic subplots these films typically have. It’s an interesting point that Betty Anne Waters continually butts up against other females, teachers, DA’s, clerks, cops, etc. in her quest to clear her brother, but the idea of women in institutional power isn’t really dealt with in any depth.

There’s also a working class quality to Betty Anne’s life and surroundings, which is totally undercut by Hilary Swank’s Hollywood good looks and perfectly white and straight teeth. Minnie Driver, as Betty Anne’s fellow attorney friend, at one point comments that she should dress like a lawyer, which is fairly ironic because even when dressed in “frumpy” clothes, Swank is still highly attractive. Is it vanity on her part? Sam Rockwell has no problem growing an ugly beard and letting the wrinkles around his eyes show the toll that the conviction has placed on him. Juliette Lewis goes all out as an ex-girlfriend of Rockwell’s character/trailer trash, complete with chipped tooth. Swank stands out visually. Which wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if it was dealt with, perhaps like they dealt with Julia Roberts using her attractiveness as an advantage in ERIN BROCKOVICH, but instead they ignore the elephant in the room to the film’s detriment.

Which is too bad, because in all other respects Hilary Swank turns in a very good performance. Swank adopts a strong New England accent, but manages not to overplay it. She has a good rapport with the two young actors who portray her sons, and she manages to sell the idea that she’s succeeding through sheer determination and grit rather than inherent smarts. She and Rockwell also have a strong relationship which absolutely sells how far she would go for him. Rockwell is also very good, selling the mercurial, charismatic, loose cannon aspects of the character where you can absolutely see how he could be perceived as a murderer and also as someone you could have a close bond with.

Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh. CONVICTION is not a bad movie. But, it is a well mounted predictable movie which doesn’t stand out in the pack of similar movies. It’s a movie I expect will be liked by many who see it, but loved by few.

CONVICTION is opening up on October 15th. You can view the trailer here.

I would have lowered some prices as well, as those field level OF seats are never full unless it is a sellout, and probably would lower the club level OF as well, as I simply adore those seats, but I don't think most folks understand how good they are despite being the 3rd level.

This is a rather poor sign for changes being made, to say the least. Frank Robinson is known to be a bit of a strict person, so for him to simply ignore blown calls tells me MLB is doing nothing, just like after last year's playoff embarrassment.

Obama doesn't get it, and Feingold...I don't even know what to say to this. Russ thinks 18 years of spending and taxing can just be wiped away by calling himself "independent"... and claim to be the tea party candidate...he's just clueless.

As Glenn points out, a couple months ago, the tea party were fringe loons, and suddenly, Russ claims to be one of them. It is astounding what being down in the polls can do. Russ has 18 years of votes and record to run on, and his entire campaign is lies, fibs, and untruths.

Pretty soon, he'll be proudly saying how pro-defense and homeland security he is. If it were up to him, terrorists would get a stern lecture, and absolutely, dessert only six days a week...except during holy weeks...that should go without saying.

Because I do not take any prescription meds, I am choosing to avoid checking them out, as I may see something like Joe Inglett: B, Prince Fielder: B-, and I'll be shaking my head until the pitchers and catchers report.

Shoppers flock to the stores at midnight...knowing their welfare accounts will be loaded at 12:01.

They might start calling this "Obama time." It's catchy, and, representative of his time in office. Sure, you can create a couple jobs in blue states by building some pork that wasn't needed, but eventually, it's done, and they go back to being unemployed. What's astounding is, this was "the plan."

Military service, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week in a speech at Duke University, “has become something for other people to do.” And nowhere, he implied, has that attitude become quite as acute as it is at elite colleges.

Defending your country, much like paying taxes (well, I'll just dock my yacht my heiress wife bought for me in another state then) is just for the little people. Those stuck up private school grads sure make it easy to hate their guts.

I don't know anyone outside the state of Ohio who has a problem with Lebron. He was a free agent, he can go wherever he wants. He probably could have done without the TV show and such, but he can do what he wants, he's a grown-up.

Never mind the Bucks could not keep Gallon, who is probably a couple years away from being anything more than a token big body at times. It'd be great for them to have him in the NBDL, able to come up to fill in if Bogut or Gooden goes down for a month. Heck, right now, both Chris Kramer and Brian Skinner would be nice role players to have for practice and to fill in for Redd and Hobson, as Skiles seems to be in no hurry to get veterans back to practice, they might well not have ten healthy bodies at times during the season, starting from 13.

I know I'm beating a deceased equine here, as the NBA doesn't want to pay 16th/17th players whatever the minimum is now, even if it would assist in developing guys, or giving regulars rest (Bogut, for example, could probably benefit from being inactive on the second night of consecutive games, especially if game two is at home against a weak opponent).

Wolfley is right, Anderson is destined for a bigger stage, as soon as one becomes available. He is not a clown like Matt V, and his quiet, understated manner is refreshing in today's loud, fake excitement/outrage (see Jim Rome and just about every color guy other than Madden, who loves the game). He calls attention the game, and will not turn anyone off, which is far more than you can say for idiots like Buck and McCarver, who are embarrassingly inept, never shut up, and overreact to every mundane, excruciatingly minute detail.

So, I stopped at Aldi on the way home today, and during my play date with the Rambling son late this afternoon, I glanced at the receipt...one item was taxed...fun size Snickers, $2.49, paid 14 cents in tax. The item right above that...fun size Kit Kat (yes, those are his two favorites), also $2.49, like the rest of the receipt, non-taxable.

I'm no expert, but I doubt that's the way the legislature intended it when they signed the bill.

And no, they're not. That blue state pork they labeled the "stimulus" looks worse every day...and it never looked very good.

Instead of the incredibly negative attacks the RNC is running, they should just run some of these ridiculous quotes by the administration (my personal favorite was why unemployment being higher was a good thing) and then state the facts since. If you ever needed more proof government spending does nothing to improve things, look no further. Anyone who took ECON 101 knows taxing those who create jobs and letting the government throw it in the wind and then try and "create wealth" with what lands on the ground will only work in thew bizarro world.

The question is not if Barcelona could play in the NBA, it's why Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol played playoff minutes in a meaningless exhibition game, just after both got done playing much of the summer in the World Championships. June is a long ways off, those fellas are going to be exhausted long before then.

I intended to make a big mistake, but you guys screwed up and turned it into an even bigger mistake.--Gleeman on a backwards tattoo

I admit, body art as it's now known (much like a guy that works at a car wash is now called an "auto appearance specialist") is lost on me, as at best, it seems shortsighted and foolish, with no positives at all; and at worst, it's a "Good God, what have you done!" moment.

I have little doubt they're worse now, even though no one wants to admit it. They not only routinely miss calls, they go out of their way to confront, yell at, and then eject players and managers; when it could easily be avoided by shutting up and walking away.

It used to be MLB did things to avoid trouble, like having Ron Luciano not be able to work BAL games because he and Earl Weaver did not get along. Now, such problems are called "Monday," because most umps take off their mask and cause the situation, rather than be the calming influence.

Incompetence is one thing. Attitude is another. Both...totally unacceptable, but that's exactly what we have.

I get the feeling as long as the union prevents MLB from removing the bottom 10-20% each year, it's only going to get worse, because the guys who work hard, stay calm, and get the calls right will learn soon enough they're getting the same raises, pay, and vacation as the Joe Wests and Balkin' Bob Davidsons.

When there's no incentive to do better, it's only going to get worse. That's just common sense.

Looking back, it seems pretty ridiculous that anyone was worried Palin wasn't able to do VP job. As if Biden's some kind of savant.--SE Cupp

Heh, SE is as brilliant as she is gorgeous. She appears on Red Eye quite a bit, as the late Greg Gutfeld did, who she is pictured with. SE deserves props because she's both conservative and an atheist, so she's despised by almost everyone, except of course those of us who believe both in fiscal conservatism and the real separation of church and state.

My belief is a limited government means staying out of ethical and morale dilemmas, though many Dems and GOP'ers disagree.

ARI, ATL, TB, and SL all had team OPS's between 733 and 740. However, TB scored far more runs than the others. Why? The thing(s) TB is good at may help to explain "this is what is important other than OBP and SLG.

The first thought is obvious, maybe TB got very fortunate. They may have hit extremely well with RISP, a stat that, as you'd expect from a small sample variant, rarely repeats itself. They also had great team speed, they stole a lot of bases, and were very successful when they did run, just under 80%. Speed means fewer hits are needed to score as well...one reason Weeks and Hart had so many RBI's was that the runners on base tended to be Escobar, Gomez, Cain (and in Corey's case, Weeks)...very fast runners.

Over the weekend, I'll figure out which teams outscored their expected runs and if any statistical trends emerge.

With the Rays supposedly cutting back on payroll next year, one has to wonder if Shields or Garza may be dealt this offseason for cheap pre-arby guys. I don't know if the Crew has anything to interest them...McGehee, Gamel, or Lawrie would seem the only names that would be the center piece for a SP of that quality...and needless to say, Longoria is the 3B for years to come.

TB has seven legitimate SP's for '11, and they're likely the spendiest.

4+ innings, 2 runs so far, and a quick hook in St. Pete. I realize you can't "punt" in the postseason, but that's about as early a departure as you'll see.

EDIT: Shields is thinking, I could have given up a HR.:)

Hopefully, TB will frown on Shield's behavior, first being grumpy he was removed, and then complaining about the umpire. I'd much rather have a guy you have to calm down once in a while, but some teams don't care for that.

Also, Lenten to training CD’s, talk with top producers, and engage in any other activity that will give you the prospecting information you need. In today’s information age knot knowing something is no longer an excuse.

Use spell check much? This is from an online e-zine I get. Years ago, I was told I should go to a sales seminar in Milwaukee, and one of the things I get for a far too high price was access to this e-zine.

Juan Samuel may interview. As I said about Cooper, the Brewers will get a fine if they do not talk to some minority candidates, so it is in their best interest to bring a few in even if they know they will not get the job.

I think we can just eliminate the fact that players have to be injured to be taken off playoff rosters. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm taking the rest off the day off due to my "chronic typing soreness."

I'm not sure why they would not have rather had Aybar on the roster anyway. Rocco has been a shell of himself for several journeys around the sun. I'm not sure if this was a strategic move because of Lee being LH or a "wouldn't it be nice if Rocco got a big hit" feel good story, but the idea Baldelli had any place on a playoff roster after 24 AB's is fool's gold.

Gleeman recaps the Twins game. I did not see the PR's used in the 8th, but I agree, that's LaRussa style using a guy just to use him, then shrugging shoulders later when the last player is used in the 10th.

The Rambling wife e-mailed me this today, and I'm sure many of you have received it as well.

I am certainly far from the "top guy" in the story, but I have no desire to make the more successful and wealthy pay more of their income than I do. As stock picker/company owner Charles Payne said once, how he gets up at 3:30 every morning to get to the office by 5, has his early research meeting at 6 to prepare for the market's opening, then after they recap their day and make plans for the next, he goes home, arriving about 6 or 7. He asked why he should pay a higher percentage in taxes than a guy who sleeps 'til noon...and I have never come up with a decent explanation for that.

Sadly, he says the ump was 20 feet from the play. I got it right, and the camera was in the press box, 150+ feet away. Luckily, they have a union that rewards the inept and punishes the fans and the sport.

I have little doubt that ads will be prevelant on jerseys in less than a decade. The EPL doesn't even list the team name, as the colors tell you which team is which, then the ad is splashed on, huge and centered.

I don't see that, but a sponsor will be on the front and back by 2020. Mark Cuban has already said they should have allowed it in the past, because now it would be second nature, instead of still being discussed.

Just like the sports league that first ventures into Vegas, whichever league jumps in first will be rewarded by loyalty and profits.

Don Wakumatsu is one name I had not considered. Jack Z will probably let Doug know whether or not to talk to him. I would certainly say Bob Melvin is the favorite, with Eric Wedge the runner-up.

Longshots? Alan Trammell was fired after a short time with a terrible Tigers' team, and Ryne Sandberg was once considered a shoo-in for the Cubs' job (and may still be). Ryne, as the story goes, got tired of Tom Trebelhorn's penchant for meetings...he started by having a team meeting at the beginning of each series, which eventually led to one every day. Sandberg was said to have walked into the GM's office and said it was either Treb or him. Shockingly, they kept their 2B and fired Trebelhorn.

And yes, it would be fitting if John Russell and Macha just switched teams.

Brewers announce AAA staff will return, though I think Don Money and Sandy Guerrero may be considered for coaching jobs by the new manager.

Also, Cecil Cooper said on Milwaukee radio today he has talked to Doug about being interested in the manager's job. Considering MLB's policy for interviewing minority candidates, he may get an interview regardless. I can't recall much about Coop's time in HOU, other than the rumor mill said Bagwell and Biggio ignored him and ran the clubhouse themselves. His teams were never very good, I know that. They did win 86 one year, and rarely bunted.

I just thought I'd link to this chart of each team's UZR (ultimate zone rating) for 2010. Despite being between -5 and -12 for much of the year, the Crew finished +2.9 runs, meaning they prevented about 3 runs more than the average team. For the many casual fans who insisted the pitching staff was average and the defense killed the team, quit e-mailing me, and pay attention. It was a perfectly mediocre defensive team, as many of the veterans have gotten better, just as you'd expect.

ARI prevented the most runs, but many playoff teams and the Padres as well finished near the top. Perhaps a more telling stat is this...only ATL made the playoffs while having a bottom 10 defensive team, PHIL was 18th of 30. Is there a lesson here?

It's easier to win if you don't suck at defense. That's also true of any aspect of the game, you can win without a great offense or great pitching, but you probably can't outhit or out pitch the worst.

Way back when, over 8 years ago, I started Ramblings for a couple reasons. One, I found the vast majority of internet message boards to be...lacking, in common sense, and in correct memories. Even the best usually only have 3-6 months of archives, but if you wish, you can go back and read the first Ramblings' post ever. Hence, I'm not misquoted here, or taken to task for things I never said.

{When I am taken to task, I also have the ability to hit "spam" and never have to read such goofiness again.}

You can also look at the individual numbers here. McGehee had a vast improvement, probably due to him being healthy this year, and shows he's very sure handed, as it does not take an eagle eye to see he has limited range. Hart trailed Braun for much of the year, but finished better. Escobar and Gomez (and Cain as well, in limited time) fit the mold for "well they look good when I see them," and sure enough, they all finished high, behind only Edmonds. Weeks used to be rather rough in the field, and has made progress...in fact, since 2007, Rickie has been -0.4 runs. Any talk of moving him now would seem stuck back in 2006, unless he wanted to move (he does not) or needed to play OF to avoid an injury.

Of course, the rule of thumb is 3 years of defense is equal to one year of offense...you simply don't get many chances in the field, especially if you play anywhere but 2B or SS (or, 98% of 1B chances are so routine, it's hard to separate them). So, one year of defense is probably still a bit of a small sample, but it's good to take a look and compare once in a while.

I did not find a list of the top performers, so I put together a list of all the players in MLB that were +/- 10 runs, which, using the rule of ten, is equal to a single win over the course of a season.

WORST DEFENDERS, worse than -10 runs

Matt Kemp, LAD, CF: -24.3

Carlos Quentin, CWS, LF: -22.9

Carlos Lee, HOU, LF: -17.4

Ryan Spilbourghs, COL, OF: -16.3

Johnny Gomes, CIN, LF: -16.1

Skip Schumacher, SL, 2B: -15.6

Andrew McCutchen, PIT, CF: -15.5

Paul Konerko, CWS, 1B: -15.4

Andre Ethier, LAD, RF: -15.1

Nate McLouth, ATL, OF: -12.6 (in only 79 games)

Ryan Howard, PHIL, 1B: -12.2

Wilson Betemit, KC, 3B/2B: -11.4

David Wright, NYM, 3B: -10.7

Neil Walker, PIT, 2B: -10.5

Jason Bartlett, TB, SS: -10.3

Hanley Ramirez, FLA, SS: -10.2

BEST DEFENDERS, better than +10 runs

Brett Gardner, NYY, LF/CF: 22.0 (+21.7 in LF in about 75% of his innings)

So, does UZR pass the smell test? Absolutely, as nearly every top defender that pops into mind is on the list. Many of the guys on the bottom list; Lee, McLouth, Howard, Schumacher (who was an OF 'til '09), Gomes, sure don't look very good.

Also, many players who don't seem to hit enough to play their spot (Gardner, Pierre, Kouzmanoff, Gwynn, Parra, Ryan) justify their place by being so good in the field.

That's a couple hours of typing, copying, and pasting I'll never get back.

10/05/2010 08:00:00 PM

These are the good old days. Some folks are just too busy wishing the streets were paved with gold to enjoy the good times.

Whatever strikes me as
interesting, and serious Milwaukee Brewers thoughts. If you are a believer
in respecting OBP, throwing strikes, and keeping the ball in the park,
you may have found the place you've been searching for. I believe in low taxes, small government, and am not afraid to be labeled patriotic. If you are interested in sausage race results, walk up music, or professional wrestling, you may wish to click elsewhere.

I'm happy to pay taxes to help the helpless. I don't like paying taxes to help the clueless. Look at the Occupy movement...I'm forced to pay taxes to help those whose plight I delight in.--Dennis Miller

If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, and your life will be brief.--President Trump

Never have lives less lived been more chronicled.--Dennis Miller

I’m going to plead with you, do not cross us. Because if you do, the survivors will write about what we do here for 10,000 years.--Mad Dog Mattis

I have never understood why it is "greed" to want to keep the money you have earned but not greed to want to take somebody else's money.--Thomas Sowell